Maritime Safety News Archives - Page 36 of 260

Tore Hoem, adventures director at Hurtigruten Svalbard, has lived on Svalbard, the remote Norwegian archipelago just a few hundred miles from the North Pole, for more than two decades, long enough to witness the sea ice retreat significantly and more rain creep into the early and late snow season.

These alarming effects of climate change are among key drivers behind the Hurtigruten Group’s sustainability efforts, including a new hybrid-electric excursion vessel recently put into service in Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s largest inhabited area. The 14.9-meter aluminum vessel, Kvitbjørn, built by Marell Boats in Sweden, runs on a hybrid-electric propulsion system developed by Volvo Penta.

Powered by a Volvo Penta twin D4-320 DPI Aquamatic hybrid solution, the boat has a top speed of 30-32 knots and a cruising speed of 24-25 knots, with a range of 500 nautical miles. Volvo Penta’s “helm to propeller” package for the vessel includes the engines and drivelines, the electronic vessel control (EVC) system, joystick control, dynamic positioning system and the driver interface. The capacity of vessel’s lithium ion batteries is 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Given the current state of technology, electrification is not an option for every vessel. One must consider the use case to determine if a hybrid or full electric setup makes sense. For Kvitbjørn, which will be used for 3-4-hour sightseeing tours, batteries combined with diesel engines fit the bill.

This wasn’t the only option, of course. According to Hoem, Hurtigruten had considered ordering a vessel with other propulsion arrangements such as more traditional outboard engines, but ultimately opted for Volvo Penta’s hybrid-electric solution based on its environmental advantages, as well as the improved passenger experience.

Tore Hoem, Adventures Director at Hurtigruten Svalbard (Photo: Volvo Penta)

Kvitbjørn’s tours out of Longyearbyen will provide an opportunity for up to 12 passengers to experience the spectacular Arctic seascapes and landscapes, as well as Svalbard’s true residents: its natural wildlife, which includes polar bears, reindeer, puffins, seals, walrus and whales. The objective isn’t to cruise at 50-plus knots, it’s to give guests the best possible journey, Hoem explained. “The key to that, in many ways, is silence.”

Kvitbjørn can be operated in three modes: full diesel, diesel with electric assist or all-electric, the last of which provides for a quieter ride that is much more pleasant for those on board and less disturbing to the pristine surrounding environment.

“It’s sort of a paradox to take guests out to a glacier front with noisy engines running. That silence is maybe the coolest thing about this [vessel],” Hoem said. “Of course, we go from A to B with some noise and diesel, but when we are at the destination it’s quiet. And that’s the key here, together with the sustainability part.”

And while diesel-electric wasn’t the only option, it certainly wasn’t the easiest either. It took a healthy dose of engineering to pull it off, Jonas Karnerfors, sales project manager at Volvo Penta, explained. Among key challenges were finding a way to fit the large, heavy batteries withing the Marell M15 hull. The team also had to come up with a way to heat the batteries—rather than cool them, as is common in other environments—to ensure they maintain an optimal temperature withing the frigid Arctic waters, Karnerfors said.

From left: Johan Inden, President of Volvo Penta’s Marine Business Unit, and Jonas Karnerfors, Sales Project Manager at Volvo Penta (Photo: Eric Haun)

Kvitbjørn comes amid wider sustainability efforts being led by both the Hurtigruten Group and Volvo Penta in parallel with tourism and marine industry peers striving to reduce their environmental impacts. Increasingly, hybrid and electric propulsion solutions are gaining interest among marine operators working to slash emissions across various sectors.

“Our vision as a company is to be a world leader in sustainable power solutions,” said Johan Inden, president of Volvo Penta’s marine business unit.

Volvo Penta, as part of the Volvo Group, has committed to having a climate neutral impact by 2050. The company aims to offer a broader range of hybrid and full electric products to the market by 2025, and Inden said Volvo Penta sees 2030 as a “tipping point” for the uptake of green propulsion technologies in the marine industry.

(Photo: Eric Haun)

According to Inden, Volvo Penta’s “helm-to-propeller” approach better positions the company to achieve its sustainability goals by allowing it to have greater control over maximizing the vessel’s overall efficiency. “The platform that we’ve developed is a combination of software systems, integration between all the parts of the propulsion system with very effective drives and propellers. It gives us a very unique position.”

Inden said that the drive system in particular is often underestimated as a necessary piece of green propulsion solutions. “The more effective you are getting your power in the water, the less of a footprint you’ll have,” he noted.

As Kvitbjørn goes to work, Volvo Penta will analyze fuel savings and emissions reductions enabled by the hybrid-electric solution, Inden said.

In addition, over the course of the next three years, the companies will test the hybrid propulsion technology as well as Volvo Penta’s new “e-mobility-as-a-service” business model, which will see Hurtigruten Svalbard pay by the kilowatt-hour for the vessel’s operation. According to Volvo Penta, this payment model, while still at a concept stage, has been conceived as a way of risk-sharing with the end-user as marine electrification solutions are typically costlier.

Inden said this model could be especially attractive in the commercial marine sector for workboat owners and operators looking to go green. “You don’t have to make a huge investment. You go to the bank, you finance it and then you amortize. You can actually use the vessel and pay for it at the same time as you earn your revenue,” Inden said. “That’s an interesting aspect from a business model and financial perspective, but even more so, it engages us with the customer in a different way, and there is a different responsibility from our side.”

(Photo: Volvo Penta)

Throughout the three-year contract period, Volvo Penta will deliver the driveline as a service; it still owns the equipment. The boat is separated from the driveline from a contract perspective, Inden said. In this case, Volvo Penta will monitor the drivetrain and maintain responsibility to ensure it remains operational. “It’s not that we handed over a vessel and then the customer calls us when something is wrong. Now we’re a bigger part of the operation,” Inden said. “As we evolve this over time, hopefully, an operator or captain will feel that we are a closer partner to making sure they’re up and running. That is a real benefit to this.”

But there are still questions to be answered. “In this setup, we are piloting and we are testing,” Inden said. “We want to understand how it will work in real commercial operation—insurance, additional financing, responsibility, data protection, et cetera. That is really what we’re trying to nudge here to get that discussion going. And we don’t know the solution. We don’t know where it will go exactly. But we are sure it’s moving in that direction, so we need to understand it.”

In the event that Hurtigruten Svalbard opts out at the end of the three years, the setup is so that Volvo Penta can exchange the equipment for a regular driveline. “It’s very safe in that perspective,” Inden said. “You always have to think 360 degrees when you do something like this. What are the options for all the involved parties? Can we do this safely? Can we do it with productivity and uptime for the customer? I hope they will be excited to continue, but let’s see.”

The Volvo Penta DPI package features a hydraulic clutch for silent and smooth shifting at low engine speeds, as well as added maneuverability. With steer-by-wire technology, the joystick functionality is also precise, delivering greater control. Kvitbjørn also has a joystick on the aft deck so a guide can steer the vessel from outside during a tour. (Photo: Eric Haun)

Source: https://www.marinelink.com/news/svalbard-tour-boat-ushers-new-498424

Fire erupted on one of cargo decks of passenger/ro-ro ferry CIUDAD DE ALCUDIA, berthed at Valencia Spain, on Aug 1. Fire was extinguished by Valencia firefighters, no injures reported, while the ship sustained unclarified damages and had to cancel scheduled trips. Ferry is connecting Mallorca and Menorca islands with Spanish mainland via Valencia, she arrived at Valencia from Palma de Mallorca early in the morning Aug 1, remained berthed as of 1640 UTC Aug 1.

New FleetMon Vessel Safety Risk Reports Available: https://www.fleetmon.com/services/vessel-risk-rating/

The newly launched Green Ray Initiative, coordinated by VTT Technical research institute in Finland, is a 5-year research project which aims to reduce methane slip from LNG-powered engines. The project has received funding worth 7 million euros from the European Commission and intends to work on multiple avenues to reduce methane slip from both newbuilds and retrofits.

The project primarily focuses on a low-pressure dual-fuel engine concept, as this engine is popular in marine applications. Within this, the project aims to develop three technologies. The first one is a four-stroke engine that will enable methane slip reduction at all engine loads, this kind of engine will find use in cruises, ferries, and gas carriers. The second will be a two-stroke engine with a patented LNG injection system, which will be used in tankers and container ships. And the third and final will be an after-treatment technology involving a sulfur-resistant catalyst system that will be able to reduce the emissions originating from methane slip by up to 95% and will reduce it to a level of 1g of emission per kWh of energy.

The project is expected to hit the ground running as many big names in the industry are its participants and backers, such as DNV, Wartsila, Shell, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, MSC Malta shipyard, CMA Ships, MSC Cruises, and the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

These technologies will be demonstrated on board two new ships and a retrofitted ship, up to the Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL7) standards. The project will also combine the data collected on emissions with onboard experiments and modeling to provide a more comprehensive outlook on the global impact on marine transport.

Source: https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2022/39021/europe-funds-new-initiative-reduce-methane-slip-ln/

Russian and Chinese tankers are carrying out high risk ship-to-ship crude oil transfers at a newly established spot in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, it has been revealed.

Analysis has tracked at least a dozen tankers involved in transferring or receiving crude oil of Russian origin, which then set sail for destinations in Asia, particularly China.

The transfers, which are taking place about 1,480 kilometres off the Portuguese coast, have raised concerns of an accident at sea with economic or ecological implications.

The research was carried out by the Lloyd’s List, a long-running shipping journal that provides insight into maritime and associated data from around the globe. It says that the ship-to-ship transfer hub represents a case of owners taking “big risks for big money”.

Experts believe mid-Atlantic ship-to-ship transfers would pose a major logistical challenge to crew members and jeopardise their safety at sea. Such transactions could also allow for the trading of oil from blacklisted nations.

At the core of the operation is a cluster of five Chinese-owned boats, which were set up under separate company names but registered at the same address.

The Lloyd’s report says Russian energy giants Gazprom and Lukoil have chartered most of the outbound ships which load from Baltic and Black sea ports, including Primorsk and Ust-Luga.

The report claims an additional 12 tankers may have been involved in the operation, but cannot be traced as their identification systems were switched off.

Alex Glykas from Dynamarine says the practice has never been seen before in the Atlantic, in part because a smooth transfer relies on the weather being “ideal”, an infrequent scenario in the area.

He says ships taking part in this kind of practice could easily be damaged, potentially leading to oil spills.

“The way that the industry has been structured, it assists opportunities because there is no proper surveillance, it’s as simple as that,” he said. “Shipowners who want to take big risks, they make big money and there are traders that support them.”

Lloyd’s List claims the practice is carried out in combination with a series of other “deceptive shipping practices”, which are designed to “obfuscate the origin and destination of the cargo, as well as the ownership and identify of any vessels involved”.

The journal says there already about 200 ageing oil tankers in the oceans which are involved in shipping 1.2 million barrels per day from countries under sanction, including Iran and Venezuela.

The transfers allow traders to mix their load with other crude oil types which can lead to false claims that a cargo on board could be, for example, ‘Malaysian Blend’ to circumvent sanctions.
Source: The National

Ensuring that Canadian Coast Guard personnel have the equipment they need to keep Canada’s waterways open and safe is a key priority for the Government of Canada.

Today, the Canadian Coast Guard is announcing the award of a $36.14 million vessel life extension contract for the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) George R. Pearkes. The vessel will be dry-docked and enter an extended maintenance period designed to increase its operational life.
Following an open and competitive process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard, has awarded Heddle Shipyards, Hamilton, Ontario, the contract to complete vessel life extension work on the CCGS George R. Pearkes. The ship primarily performs light icebreaking and buoy tending, and is available for search and rescue and environmental response operations on Canada’s east coast.

The vessel life extension work includes:

• steel hull reinforcement;
• hull, superstructure, deck and mast recoating;
• galley modernization;
• replacement of the bow thruster, cycloconverter, propulsion generator and the internal communication system;
• tail shaft and rudder inspections; and
• domestic and auxiliary system upgrades.

This contract award falls under the repair, refit and maintenance pillar of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which is helping to ensure that Canada has a safe and effective fleet of ships to serve and protect Canadians for years to come, while providing ongoing opportunities for shipyards and suppliers across Canada.

While the ship undergoes vessel life extension from Winter 2023 to Spring 2024, the Canadian Coast Guard will reallocate its other maritime resources to ensure Canada’s waterways continue to be safe for all seafarers in Canadian waters.

Quotes
“A strong, well-equipped, Canadian Coast Guard fleet is essential to protect Canadians on the water, and the marine environment. This Government continues to make important investments through the National Shipbuilding Strategy so that Canadian Coast Guard personnel have state of the art equipment to perform their crucial work. With the vessel life extension of the CCGS George R. Pearkes, Canadian Coast Guard personnel will continue their key role in supporting Canada’s blue economy.”

The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
“Canadians from coast to coast to coast know the importance of our Coast Guard. I am thrilled that a company from Hamilton will be able to help ensure that personnel of Canada’s Coast Guard have a safe and effective fleet of ships to serve and protect. This contract award today demonstrates that the National Shipbuilding Strategy provides economic opportunities for shipyards across Canada. Canada’s skilled shipbuilding workforce is helping us repair and maintain our fleets, while supporting economic growth across the country.”

The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Quick Facts
• The CCGS George R. Pearkes entered into service in 1986.
• Stationed in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, CCGS George R. Pearkes is primarily a light icebreaker and buoy tending vessel named for Victoria Cross recipient George Randolph Pearkes.
• Although the vessel is primarily used for buoy tending and icebreaking, it also performs search and rescue, scientific research and environmental response.
Source: Canadian Coast Guard

According to Alphaliner, the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) announced a new, streamlined procedure for shippers who wish to file complaints against shipping lines for unfair charges.

This announcement is received as a result of the numerous complaints that shippers or exporters had presented in the United States due to the collections in detention and delays of the containers of the maritime lines that in past news involved Hapag-Lloyd. The ruling, favorable to the shipper, resulted in a large fine to the shipping line for excessive charges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a notice published last week enacting the provisions of the new Shipping Reform Act, the new guidance will allow shippers to open a dispute by sending a single email to the FMC detailing the alleged violations along with supporting documents.

If enough information is received, the FMC will launch an investigation. Shipper representatives claimed that the guidance would give the FMC enforcement strength, similar to that of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). An FMC investigation could result in possible civil penalties for carriers and an order for reimbursement of the charges.

The FMC notice follows the enactment of the Shipping Reform Act on June 16, the first update to US shipping law since 1998. Shippers must show that the alleged violation took place after of June 16 and that contravenes the new Law.

Taking this announcement into account, exporters and NVOCCs will now have a little more negotiating capacity against shipping lines in the United States. However, the possible sanctions that this would entail are not yet known, but it is stipulated that they be compensation or monetary fines.

Source: Alphaliner

Seafarers are an integral part of the shipping industry, and Ardmore Shipping is committed to supporting individuals from Cadet to Captain. As the shipping industry navigates the energy transition, Ardmore believes that people will need to collaborate and share knowledge agility and experience to make this era an opportunity for positive change. Even deeper investment in talent will be key to the success today and in the future.

To get insight from the team at sea, Ardmore Shipping hears from Enache Marian Alexandru, 2^nd Officer, who has just finished his latest voyage onboard the Ardmore Seavaliant and reflects on his experiences at sea, the importance of connectivity and the lifestyle offered by seafaring.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Few jobs offer the chance to see a multitude of places around the world and to meet so many different people from different countries. Working in a close environment for long periods of time enables you to connect, listen and explore other cultures and ways of life. These experiences help build better relationships and enable you to become more of a well-rounded person. The experience of being at sea helps people learn about themselves, discover hidden strengths and talents, and understand the value of teamwork.

Describe your experience on board Ardmore vessels.

I had the opportunity to start my career with Ardmore Shipping, learning from the beginning to have high standards in everything I do. Working with passionate and hard-working teammates is a unique and unforgettable experience, and very difficult to compare to a land-based job. Ardmore Shipping is an extremely professional company with proficient and well-trained crew. Having access to good quality internet while at sea makes a big difference to wellbeing onboard. Being in touch with our family at all times makes it easier to be far away from them.

What was your experience of Ardmore’s cadet program?

I spent an extensive amount of time on a single vessel as part of my training, during which I was involved in all the jobs you are required to do as an officer. I had a very supportive and experienced crew teach me and was willing to answer every question I had. It was a great experience being supported from shore and sea staff during this process and I spent many evenings writing in my cadet training book because there’s a lot of information you need to know to do the role safely. It formed part of my portfolio when I went for my final examination and I am very grateful for the value this experience brought to my education platform.

What is your opinion on the importance of safety onboard?

We need to avoid incidents from happening so Ardmore’s approach to providing fleet training sessions and drills ensures we are always testing our team and refreshing our processes. We have access to regular training online via the Seagull CBT platform and regular video and in person conferences with the Ardmore shore team which helps support our development and connection with the land based team.

It is important to recognize that safety comes down to decision-making. Sometimes the decisions might be emergency related, or they might be to do with high-value cargo, so you have to have the confidence to present yourself and know that what you’re going to do is what you were trained for and, therefore, is the right choice to make.

Source: https://ardmoreshipping.com/crew-insights-2nd-officer-enache-marian-alexandru-shares-his-experiences/

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, on research and training towards enhancing maritime safety and security in Nigeria.

The Director General NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, and his counterpart at the NITT, Dr. Bayero Salih Farah, signed the MoU over the weekend in Zaria, which is hinged on research and training, with a view to enhancing local content and boosting the quality assurance of the institute. This is a follow up on earlier agreements reached between both Agencies of government in their quest to further domesticate specialized training programmes at management cadre in the maritime sector.

Dr. Jamoh described the MoU between both parties as a mutually beneficial partnership, aimed at supporting the core mandate of the NITT, while also in line with his administration’s commitment to capacity building for NIMASA staff.

According to him, “the MoU is to formalize and strengthen the existing relationship between NIMASA and the NITT in terms of research, training and capacity development in general. We appreciate your visit to NIMASA sometime ago and we are glad that much progress is being made in terms of our collaboration”. We hope that your institute willconduct detailed research to determine gaps in the implementation of our core mandate and develop training programs to close such identified gaps.”

On his part, the NITT Director General, Dr. Bayero Salih Farah, thanked NIMASA for its longstanding support to the institute through direct financial assistance and by utilizing the training services provided for the Agency’s staff over the years.

He added that the NITT would work closely with NIMASA to ensure that the Institute provides training and research services that are of globally acceptable standard.

NITT provides trainings to personnel employed in all modes of transport, leading to the award of various certificates; Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma and Masters in Transport and Logistics.

NIMASA has continued to embrace capacity building as a tool to enhance maritime development in Nigeria, while also engaging in all forms of viable collaborations towards achieving its mandate, which cuts across shipping development, maritime safety and maritime security.

Source: https://www.sunnewsonline.com/nimasa-nitt-sign-mou-on-research-training-on-maritime-safety/

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has recognised volunteer Ian Baker of Marine Rescue NSW with the NSW Maritime Medal 2021 for Safety.

The Safety Medal is awarded every two years to a person or group demonstrating outstanding and sustained effort that promotes safety for the boating and/or maritime community of NSW.

Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary Safety Environment and Regulation Tara McCarthy congratulated Mr Baker for his outstanding and sustained contribution to the boating and maritime community.

“The selection panel agreed that Mr Baker, who has volunteered for more than 45 years in maritime safety, was the stand-out nominee for the Safety medal,” Ms McCarthy said.

“He joined the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association in 1975 – one of three services which later merged to form Marine Rescue NSW – and has been dedicated to saving lives on NSW waters ever since.

“As an operational Search and Rescue Support Officer and Coxswain, Mr Baker has participated in more than 400 rescues – which is an amazing achievement.

“He has served in every unit role and earned the respect of everyone he has volunteered with, including members he mentors.

“His passion for boating safety is evident in his running of boat licence and radio courses for the public, as well as courses for Marine Rescue NSW members, plus his devotion of entire weekends to conducting training or rostered boat duty as a skipper.

“TfNSW thanks Mr Baker for his professionalism, dedication and extensive maritime safety expertise.

“These valuable attributes inspire other volunteers to maintain and extend their skills and knowledge in maritime safety for the benefit of the wider community.”

Source: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/volunteer-of-more-than-45-years-awarded-nsw-maritime-medal-for

Washington State Ferries said one of its vessels suffered “significant damage” as the result of a “hard landing” at the Fauntleroy terminal in Seattle on Thursday.

The Cathlamet, which was traveling from Vashon Island to West Seattle during a 7:55 a.m. sailing, reportedly struck an offshore dolphin (pilings, not the aquatic mammal) before alliding with the dock.

Photos shared to social media show considerable damage to Cathlamet’s port bow above the waterline. No injuries or pollution were reported, though several cars on board the ferry have been damaged. All but two cars were able to exit the ferry, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard said it is working with Washington State Ferries to investigate the cause of the incident.

Meanwhile, the Fauntleroy terminal is closed until further notice. “The dock structure will be examined and if it’s determined to be usable, we’ll restore service there,” Washington State Ferries said.

The state ferry operator said it is working with Kitsap Transit and King County Metro to coordinate passenger-only services while its Fauntleroy service is affected.

Cathlamet is a 328-foot Issaquah class ferry with capacity for 1,200 passengers and 124 vehicles. It was built by Marine Power and Equipment in Seattle in 1981.

(Photo: U.S. Cost Guard)